Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1890 & 99

Christopher Atkinson Farmer. (1843 - 1895)


Christopher Farmer was the younger brother of Sir James Farmer and was Manager of his engineering works. He was also a Salford Councillor.

 


He was born in 1843 in Berwick-upon-Tweed. IGI gives his father as simply Farmer and his mother's name as Isabella Shillinglaw. In 1871 he married Jane Massey Dutton in Manchester by Registrar. She was born in 1846, and baptised on 3rd May 1846 at St Mary's, Stockport and was the daughter of Charles Dutton and Elizabeth Massey. They had two sons, Herbert (born 1872 in Salford) and Charles Massey (born 1874 at Salford Greengate). Sadly, Jane died on 4th April 1874 aged 27.

 


Christopher married again in 1877 to Mary Jane Whittaker at St Philip's Church, Salford. She was born in 1847, in Ashton-under-Lyne. They had sons Gerald M. (born 1882), Roy Massey (born 23rd May 1886 and died 5th April 1887), Eric Massey (born 1889) and Roy Stuart M. (born 1893). In 1881 the family was living at 3, Wilton Place, Salford. Some 14 years later, Christopher died on 31st January 1895 at Broughton. He was 51 years old. Mary Jane lasted another 17 years and died on 3rd June 1912, aged 65 years.

 


The Salford Reporter of 2nd February 1895 records, "We regret to announce the sudden death, at the age of 51, of Councillor Christopher A Farmer, which occurred on Thursday at his residence, 94, Broughton Lane, Broughton. He was ailing for only a short period before his death. He was returned to Salford Council on 1st November 1891 in company with Cllr Oller to represent old Kersal Ward as a Conservative. When the wards were re-arranged in consequence of the amalgamation of the three districts of the Borough, Mr Farmer was allocated to St Stephen's Ward, Pendleton. On his retirement in November last however, he was nominated for Grosvenor Ward, Broughton, which had strong claims on him in the matter of residence, defeating Labour by 164 votes.

 


His public life was devoted almost entirely to municipal work and as a member of the River Irwell Conservancy Committee and the Technical Committee he performed most useful work. He seldom troubled the Council with a speech. His political views led to his attachment to the St. Stephen's Conservative Club. In business, Mr Farmer was Manager of the large engineering works in the Adelphi of which his deceased brother, Alderman Sir James Farmer was the founder".

 


The funeral of Christopher Farmer took place on Monday afternoon, 4th February 1895. The cortege of the hearse, drawn by four horses, and eight carriages proceeded from his home to St Clement's Church, Broughton Lane, where he had been a Sidesman. Some 50 workmen of Adelphi Ironworks and representatives of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, preceded the cortege to Weaste Cemetery. The principal mourners were Christopher's sons, Herbert, Charles M., Gerald and Eric; and nephews A.W. Farmer, T.H. Farmer and A. Derbyshire. Alderman Richard Mottram (Mayor of Salford) and Councillors colleagues were also present.